Economy

Virginia has lost five million acres of farmland over the past fifty years. And while agricultural production remains high, there are fewer farms producing more product more efficiently. Where does that leave the small farm, the family farm? Some who have farmed for generations share that they have to innovate to maintain their bottom line, especially given current inflationary pressures. Even global operations are having to answer new demands created during and since the pandemic. Yet they remain determined to succeed.

Virginia’s unemployment rate went up slightly last month, but it’s still significantly lower than the nationwide rate.

Virginia’s unemployment rate went up slightly last month, but it’s still significantly lower than the nationwide rate.

The New Road Community Development Group has helped Exmore residents buy land from absentee landlords.

“Growth is good,” Mayor Levar Stoney said last week. “But there's a flip side to that.

Assistance varies each year, depending on funding that VDSS receives, as well as the number of households approved for help.

Virginians pay roughly twice as much of their income on housing as they did in 1960.

Paying more for food and other goods means families living in motels have less money to save for a new apartment's security deposit.

As COVID becomes less of a concern, more people are trying to get back to their pre-pandemic activities. But staffing shortages are a persistent challenge. Businesses deal with too many job openings while some workers are retooling to go after jobs they want most.

In September, the hotline fielded more calls than ever before — about 7,100.